Life, 1907-08-08 · page 5 of 20
Life — August 8, 1907 — page 5: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
This is a satirical dialogue between "Life" (the magazine personified as a woman) and "Miss Corelli" (likely Marie Corelli, a popular British novelist of the era). The joke targets the gap between popular and critical literary taste. Miss Corelli defends her work's popularity despite dismissal by literary critics and English book reviewers. Life teases her about this contradiction—her books are widely read by "common people" yet scorned by literary establishment figures. The satire critiques both pretentious literary gatekeepers who disdain popular fiction, and authors who seek validation from both mass audiences and elite critics simultaneously. The final anecdote about a Chicago judge versus a London police court suggests American pragmatism outperforms British snobbery.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
" OOD morning, Lire.” “This is" —— “Don’t you know me?” “Dear me, Miss Corelli, I believe. Delighted, I assure you. How is Litera ture?” “T haven't the least idea. ‘That is something, Lire, I don’t bother with. My books sell too well for that.” “How candid!” “That's the trouble with me. too candid.” “You are popular, aren't you, Miss Corelli?” “Very. Except, of course, with the book review 4 “Oh, certainly. That goes without saying. But what can I do for you?” “T want to ask you'what you think of my work ?”” “T’ve never read it.” 3oodness, gracious! happen?” “Well, I've been so busy reading Laura Jean Libby, the ten cent magazines Iam How did that and the Journal. You see, Miss Corelli, 1 am patriotic.” “But I wanted your opinion.” “T can give it to you just as well with out having read anything you have writ- ten, Miss Corelli. Any book reviewer can do that.”* “True. Well, then, go on.” “You are scorned by the best literary English book reviewers roast whenever they have the chance. “You have made yourself ridiculous by acting out your feelings.” “T have.” “And your books are read by a lot of folks.” “Indeed, yes.” “Then, Miss Corelli, I have only one thing to say.”” you “And that?”? “If high-toned literary people dislike you, if reviewers denounce you, and common people read you, there must be something to you.”” “Thank you ever so much, Lirr.” “Don’t mention it.” Oh, the Difference! HEN a Chicago judge finally. suc- ceeded in inducing Mr. Rockefeller to attend in his court and testify as to some matters of business there was a perceptible quiver of excitement through the republic. But when a London police court sent out and got our great Mr. Morgan to come in and deny the statements of an adventuress who claimed to have had business dealings with him it was only an amusing incident, and the sphere kept on revolving without a perceptible jolt. comicbooks.com.